Other 2023 Levo SL - Full 29er?
- Thread starter afk314
- Start date
I had 2x 29" wheels, so set mine up as a 29'er.
I'm just under 6ft 2" tall, and am on the S4.
Haven't tried a 27.5" rear... but have ordered a new set of i9 315 Enduro wheels as a 29" pair - so have no intention of making it a mullet. It's plenty manoeuvrable and playful (for me anyway) as a 29'er compared to my previous Levo SL 1.1 - which was XL.
I'm just under 6ft 2" tall, and am on the S4.
Haven't tried a 27.5" rear... but have ordered a new set of i9 315 Enduro wheels as a 29" pair - so have no intention of making it a mullet. It's plenty manoeuvrable and playful (for me anyway) as a 29'er compared to my previous Levo SL 1.1 - which was XL.
Desert_Turtle
Active member
I’m 173 cm, not quite 5’9”, on an S3. I find the bike feels better as a 29er.
CjP
PRIME TIME
I’m 176cm and rode both the S3 and S4 and found the latter to be a better fit. Could have gone either way but I like a longer bike and the S4 was perfect for me.
Rode them in both mullet and 29er and as always 29er just rolls better.
Never gotten on with mullet in all generations of Kenevos and Levos.
Rode them in both mullet and 29er and as always 29er just rolls better.
Never gotten on with mullet in all generations of Kenevos and Levos.
Trail Blazer
Member
I actually prefer that's its mullet in S4.
I am 184 cm 95 kilo. So nimble and agile riding tech trails. I guess if I where to only run XC Trails 29 would be better.
I had S5 Levo Gen 3 before.
I am 184 cm 95 kilo. So nimble and agile riding tech trails. I guess if I where to only run XC Trails 29 would be better.
I had S5 Levo Gen 3 before.
I ride gnarly trails on my 2023 Levo SL and DEFINITELY prefer it in 29".
I have a 29" Maxxis Dissector 2.4 in the rear and leave the flip chip in the 27.5 position. Plenty of tire clearance without lengthening the chainstay. I find this setup to be the best and I tested both wheel sizes thoroughly.
IMHO Specialized should have shipped it without the chainstay flipchip, as a 29" all around and in the slack headset position but fixed.
Marshall Willanholly
Active member
Are there any TCU settings that need to change when switching to a 29” rear wheel?
Last edited:
Good question, I didn't change wheel circumference setting.
The Mastermind application doesn't let you change circumference setting, you have to go to a bike shop (which I never do) I understand shops have access to a program to change the setting and will do it for free or just a small charge.
Distance and speed settings will be slightly off when running a 29" but personally I don't use them. I suppose assist will stay to a higher speed, but doesn't matter when mountain biking - maybe on the road.
That's what I'm finding... My Garmin will say I'm doing say 15mph, but the TCU will be at something like 14.2.
I don't use the TCU for recording my rides - only really for checking the battery level when I have a RE plugged in - as my Garmin says 100%, but the TCU says 150%.
The positive for not changing the TCU to be a 29" wheel is that I maybe get 1mph faster before the limiter cuts in.
exactly! Personally I only care about S.O.C.
After two months of intense enduro with mullet on a PRO S4, in High, Long and -1°, I have no intention of trying the 29 rear wheel. The SL2 is simply perfect. Agile and very composed. I have Enduro 2020 at home in full 29 and also the KSL Expert full 29. On the Levo Gen3 I tried 29 back and returned to the mullet with long chainstays, more agile and reactive.
ah1
Active member
Just came across this - interested how do you compare the 3 bikes? I also have an Enduro and had KSL and sold it. Considering buying a Levo SL gen2 but knowing the other bikes your comparison would be helpful. Thanks.
cosas_genericas
Member
I experimented with 27.5 in long and short chainstay mode and found the bike to be significantly more stable in turns and way more intuitive to lean. It felt more like my 2023 SJ Evo 29er. My observations were the same as the Pinkbike reviewer's observations where he found the mullet in long (29er) chainstay mode to be the best compromise.
www.pinkbike.com
Review: 6 Months Aboard the Specialized Levo SL eMTB - Pinkbike
The Levo SL weighs a touch under 40 pounds and puts out 50 Nm of torque.
ah1
Active member
Do you know how much it adds to the wheelbase? Thinking of comparing size S5 to my Enduro S4 to see if it makes sense to lengthenI experimented with 27.5 in long and short chainstay mode and found the bike to be significantly more stable in turns and way more intuitive to lean. It felt more like my 2023 SJ Evo 29er. My observations were the same as the Pinkbike reviewer's observations where he found the mullet in long (29er) chainstay mode to be the best compromise.
Review: 6 Months Aboard the Specialized Levo SL eMTB - Pinkbike
The Levo SL weighs a touch under 40 pounds and puts out 50 Nm of torque.
cosas_genericas
Member
If we extrapolate based on the SJ Evo calculator here.
A SJ EVO changing only the wheel from 29 to 27.5 changes wheelbase fairly proportionately 1261 to 1259 (when in low mode).
Going from high to low on the bottom bracket height flip chip at the horst link (pictured below), which is known as 27.5 to 29er flip chip on the Levo SL, takes a bike with a 27.5 rear from to 1254 in high to 1259 in low. The chainstay changes only 5mm and therefore the wheelbase changes proportionally 5mm as well.
On a S4 Levo SL with a stock wheelbase of 1238mm (Horst flip chip set at "27.5" aka "High") going to "29" aka "Low" adds 10mm. In the Pinkbike comment, he states the chainstay increases 10mm with the flip chip, and I would expect the wheelbase increases proportionally. This 10mm different in chainstay is confirmed here, but it says nothing to the wheelbase length explicitly: Gen.2 Levo SL Chainstay Flip-Chip Kit
Conversely the old flip chip from the SJ Evo says "Adjusts the wheelbase by 5mm:
Horst Pivot Flip Chip Kit
Flip chip kit used to adjust the geometry at the Horst pivot on Stumpjumper EVO, Gen.3 Levo, and Kenevo SL bikes.
So putting the flip chip in 29er PLUS adding a 29er wheel would be 10mm + 2mm = 12mm overall wheelbase increase.
ah1
Active member
Thanks, VERY helpful! I'll try the shorter config first as it's already configured (the bike is brand new, haven't ridden it yet), then I'll try the long. Incidentally, there's this amazing tool for comparing geos: Geometry Geeks I use that to compare the results of the 27.5 and 29er config to my existing 29er bikesIf we extrapolate based on the SJ Evo calculator here.
A SJ EVO changing only the wheel from 29 to 27.5 changes wheelbase fairly proportionately 1261 to 1259 (when in low mode).
Going from high to low on the bottom bracket height flip chip at the horst link (pictured below), which is known as 27.5 to 29er flip chip on the Levo SL, takes a bike with a 27.5 rear from to 1254 in high to 1259 in low. The chainstay changes only 5mm and therefore the wheelbase changes proportionally 5mm as well.
On a S4 Levo SL with a stock wheelbase of 1238mm (Horst flip chip set at "27.5" aka "High") going to "29" aka "Low" adds 10mm. In the Pinkbike comment, he states the chainstay increases 10mm with the flip chip, and I would expect the wheelbase increases proportionally. This 10mm different in chainstay is confirmed here, but it says nothing to the wheelbase length explicitly: Gen.2 Levo SL Chainstay Flip-Chip Kit
Conversely the old flip chip from the SJ Evo says "Adjusts the wheelbase by 5mm:
Horst Pivot Flip Chip Kit
Flip chip kit used to adjust the geometry at the Horst pivot on Stumpjumper EVO, Gen.3 Levo, and Kenevo SL bikes.www.specialized.com
So putting the flip chip in 29er PLUS adding a 29er wheel would be 10mm + 2mm = 12mm overall wheelbase increase.
View attachment 142929
View attachment 142930
Bilbobaggyshorts
Member
Also running my S4 as set up in the PB review and imo its the best option. Haven’t tried it in that configuration with the standard headset cup thoI experimented with 27.5 in long and short chainstay mode and found the bike to be significantly more stable in turns and way more intuitive to lean. It felt more like my 2023 SJ Evo 29er. My observations were the same as the Pinkbike reviewer's observations where he found the mullet in long (29er) chainstay mode to be the best compromise.
Review: 6 Months Aboard the Specialized Levo SL eMTB - Pinkbike
The Levo SL weighs a touch under 40 pounds and puts out 50 Nm of torque.
ah1
Active member
What your setting on the Transmission setup position - is it A or B (I've attached a photo of where to find that)
cosas_genericas
Member
I did not change this setting. I did not notice a change in shifting performance on my axis transmission
I’ll take a look at the chain gap next time though
ah1
Active member
Thanks for the info! When you do look, plmk if it came in the A or the B setting. Thanks!
cosas_genericas
Member
ah1
Active member
I got my bike and thinking of going this route - I have it setup in slack / low bb. Do you think I should change the BB setting to high if I lengthen the chainstay (and keep 27.5 wheel on rear)? Just worried it might be "too much" to go low on everythingI experimented with 27.5 in long and short chainstay mode and found the bike to be significantly more stable in turns and way more intuitive to lean. It felt more like my 2023 SJ Evo 29er. My observations were the same as the Pinkbike reviewer's observations where he found the mullet in long (29er) chainstay mode to be the best compromise.
Review: 6 Months Aboard the Specialized Levo SL eMTB - Pinkbike
The Levo SL weighs a touch under 40 pounds and puts out 50 Nm of torque.
cosas_genericas
Member
cosas_genericas
Member
ah1
Active member
FWIWI, mine came in B and been shifting poorly even on the stand. I switched to A and now it's fine, before and after the longer chainstay.
cosas_genericas
Member
Sorry actually just looked again ones actually in B not A! The guide says it should be in B oddly. I wonder if I can lock cage forward and switch this around without taking derailleur off
ah1
Active member
yes, and I contacted SRAM to ask them to check if their guide is wrong... I know another guy who switched to A.
You don't need to take the derailleur off. Watch the SRAM T-type install video, basically loosen a bit the rear wheel axle, then loosen the derailleur (where it says 35N), then switch from B to A and go through the setup processes, then tighten back. Best to watch the video there are a few steps involved.
cosas_genericas
Member
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